salutation

From Middle English salutacioun, from Old French salutacion, from Latin salutatio (“a greeting, a wishing health to”), from saluto (“wish one’s health, greet”), from salus (“well-being”). Compare the Latin greeting salve (literally “be well”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌsæljuˈteɪʃən/, /ˌsæljəˈteɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən
• Hyphenation: sal‧u‧ta‧tion

salutation (countable and uncountable, plural salutations)

1. A greeting, salute, or address; a hello.
2. The act of greeting.
   • 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] ‎, London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 550:

     Welcome, we²l'ku²m. a.
     Received with gladneſs, admitted willingly, grateful […]
     Welcome, we²l'ku²m. interj.
     A form of ſalutation uſed to a new comer.

3. (obsolete) Quickening; excitement.

• angelic salutation

• valediction

Borrowed from Latin salutātiōnem.

• IPA^(key): /sa.ly.ta.sjɔ̃/

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salutation f (plural salutations)

1. greeting
2. (letter-writing) valediction, complimentary close

• salutaire
• saluer

• “salutation”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.